James Blake saved seven of eight break-point chances for Korean qualifier Jun Woong-sun and posted a 6-3 7-5 victory in the second round at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships on Thursday.
Blake, who won here two years ago, was never in trouble but appeared sluggish at times, letting Jun - the 293rd ranked player in the world - hang around in the match.
Jun had two break-point chances in the opening game before Blake prevailed and the Korean then held off four break chances for the American later in the first set.
Blake finally broke Jun to take a 5-3 lead and, after winning the first set, broke him again in the second and had a 2-0 advantage. But Jun rallied back to even the set at 2-2 and held serve to take a 5-4 lead. After again evening the second set, Blake capitalised on a break-point chance to take a 6-5 lead and served out for the victory.
The American fired 10 aces in the match and will next take on Taipei's Lu Yen-hsun, who defeated American wild card Rajeev Ram 6-1 7-6 (7-1).
Three other Americans were also in second-round action Thursday, including No.4 Sam Querrey, who is taking on veteran Vincent Spadea for the fourth time. Including a win at Delray Beach this year, Querrey holds a 2-1 series lead over the 33-year-old Spadea.
The 20-year-old Querrey, who won his first career title earlier this year in Las Vegas, reached the semi-finals at this event last season before falling to Tursunov.
Unseeded American Bobby Reynolds will take on the winner of Querrey and Spadea in the quarter-finals after cruising past Columbia's Alejandro Falla 6-1 6-1. Celebrating his 26th birthday Thursday, Reynolds has won a pair of Challenger-level events this year, but still is looking to play in an ATP final.
"I didn't play at even half of my level," Reynolds said. "I didn't serve well but I was pleased with my returns. You just hope that your best tennis will come in the next match."
Indianapolis Tennis Championships, Indiana Results - Day 4
Men’s Singles Second Round
Bobby Reynolds (USA) def. Alejandro Falla (Colombia) 6-1 6-1
Yen-Hsun Lu (Chinese Taipei) def. Rajeev Ram (USA) 6-1 7-6 (7-1)
1-James Blake (USA) def. Woong-Sun Jun (South Korea) 6-3 7-5